School ‘adoption’ brings joy

Bay pharmacist helps make life a little easier for grateful New Brighton pupils.

A chance meeting almost 10 years ago set off a heart-warming relationship between a Humewood pharmacist and a New Brighton primary school.

Marcelle Wentworth “adopted” Phillip Nikiwe Primary School and has made it her life’s mission to see that the pupils, many underprivileged, have all their needs met.

Yesterday she donated a pair of shoes and socks to every pupil at the school – 250 pairs with more to come for those who were absent.

The donation – one of many orchestrated by Wentworth – stems from a letter she wrote to The Herald last year which was read by a family visiting from the UK.

When they returned to the UK they contacted her and donated the funds to allow Wentworth the opportunity to purchase shoes for her “adopted school”.

She used funds raised by friends and family to buy stationery for every child which was also donated yesterday, along with pencil cases embroidered with the school’s name for the Grade 7s.

School principal Rebecca Makeng said Wentworth’s involvement was very welcome.

-Eleanor Douglas-Meyers